Grolier Online by Scholastic

Bibliographic Information: Grolier Online. go.grolier.com/. Scholastic, Inc.

Plot Summary: Grolier Online is subscription database service that is made up by different digital encyclopedias and is offered for free to library patrons with use of their library card. The database is broken down into tabs for: Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Patrons, Librarians/Educators. These age-related sections makes this an excellent resource for  teens and their research papers and projects. All results are broken down by reading level and also show which specific encyclopedia the information can be found in.

The only downside is that patrons must have a library card to access this service.

Critical Evaluation: N/A

Reader’s Annotation: Grolier Online, by Scholastic, Inc., offers one point of access for eight fantastic encyclopedias.
 

Information About the Database: Grolier Online is published by Scholastic Library Publishing, a division of Scholastic Inc. It includes eight encyclopedia databases: Encyclopedia Americana, Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, The New Book of Knowledge, La Nueva Enciclopedia Cumbre, America the Beautiful, Lands and Peoples, Amazing Animals of the World, and The New Book of Popular Science (Grolier Online: About: Overview, 2012).

Genre: Database

Curriculum Ties: Can be used on a section on best practice research methods.

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age: Varied ages, but specifically caters to high school student.

Challenge Issues: No challenges. I would use the following items if any issues did arise.

1) Refer to Library Bill of Rights, see items: I, II, and III (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill).
2) Refer to San Diego Public Library collection policy - (http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-the-library/freedom.shtml).  Original site: The American Library Association (ALA) Freedom to Read/View Statement (http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/statementspols/ftrstatement/freedomreadstatement).
3) Refer to California School Library Association (CSLA), Model School Library Standards - September 2010 (http://www.csla.net/index.php/publications/school-library-standards). PDF: (http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/librarystandards.pdf).

4) Refer t0 American Association for School, Librarians Standards for the 21st Century Learner (http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standards_2007.pdf)

5) Contact Office of Intellectual Freedom for any further support, 800-545-2433, ext. 4223 or oif@ala.org.

6) Refer to legitimate book reviews, such as: School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book and others; found on either Academic Search Premier, Follett's TITLEWAVE, or Amazon.com.

Why did you include this database in the titles you selected?: I chose this item because it is an excellent source of research materials that can be accessed for free by teens using their local library card. Also, the features included in the database (broken up age groups, reading level notations, and various sources) make this a great resource for any teen working on complex school projects.

Reference Page:
 
Grolier Online.  (2012).  Grolier Online: About: Overview. Retrieved July 18, 2012 from http://go-passport.grolier.com/help_about?id=goabout

Grolier Online.  (2012).  Grolier Online cover art. Retrieved July 18, 2012 from http://www.ps32.org/library-resources/library-links/